Swimming belt



Nov. 24, 1931.

I A. WALUS SWIMMING BELT Filed Dec. 25, 1930 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PatentedNov. 24, 1931 ANDREW wanes, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SWIMMING BELTApplication filed December 23, 1930. Serial No. 504,359.

' This invention relates to swimming belts and life preservers. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide a swimming belt whichis readily in? flated and which is capable of being securely strappedaround the body.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a practical andinexpensive swimming belt which will enable aperson to learn to swimwithout interfering with the movements of the body. I

. Another object of the invention is to provide a life saving belt whichwill occupy a relatively small space when not in use and which willprove as effective when in use as other life saving belts which employcork or other buoyant materials.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterspecifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the specificationproceeds. 5

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides incertain novel const'r'uctions and combinations and arrangements ofparts, clearly described in the following specification and fullyillustrated'in the accompanying drawings which latter show an embodimentof the invention as at present preferred.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment showingthe same in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentarysection of the valve construction.

Referring now more particularly to said drawings, the embodiment as atpresent preferred includes an annular tubular float structure 5, whichis constructed of relatively heavy rubber, such as is used in automobileinner tubes, and is provided with a belt portion 6, secured to one endthereof, and having .a number of spaced holes 6, and a buckle 7 toengage said belt structure. The belt portion may be of any suitablelength in order to be adjustable to various girths.

Thetubular float structure carries a valve 8 near one end thereof, saidvalve comprising an externally threaded male structure 9 with .a flangeportion 9 to engage the inner side of the float structure and anlnternally threaded female portion 10, carrying a flange portion 10; toengage the outer side of the float structure, a top portion 11, amouthpiece portion 12 and a valve member 13, secured to the top portion11. When it is desired to inflate the float structure one forces airinto the mouthpiece portion until the float is properly inflated. Thebelt may be deflated after use, by opening the valve 18. This may bemost easily accomplished by inserting a match or the like in themouthpiece portion 12.

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerablemodification without departing from the invention; therefore, it is thewish not to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described,which are as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. In other wordsthe scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from theappended claim, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the priorart.

What I claim is:

A swimming belt comprising an annular tubular inflatable floatstructure, means for detachably connecting the ends of said floatstructure together and a valve structure comprising two tubular membershaving flanges bearingon opposite sides of a: wall of said floatstructure, said members belng screwed together to cause their respectiveflanges to cooperate in gripping the wall of the float structure heldtherebetween, to makea watertight joint between said valve body and saidfloat structure.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

ANDREW WALUS.

